A Swiss non-profit foundation committed to improving the quality of life in vulnerable
communities across Latin America, Fondation Soli has generously contributed to the Geneva Graduate Institute’s efforts to advance education and research in Peru and the Andean region.

Catherine Mulder, an entrepreneur and alumna of the Institute (MINT 1977), with deep
professional roots in Latin America, founded Fondation Soli in 2018 to combine strategic
philanthropy with a commitment to long-term social integration. Each year, Fondation Soli
makes it possible for talented students from Peru and the Andean region to pursue their
studies at the Institute by funding full scholarships. These scholarships are awarded based
on financial need and academic excellence, opening doors to transformative opportunities for the recipients.

In addition to supporting students, Fondation Soli also funds research scholarships that
enable both Master’s and PhD students to conduct fieldwork in Peru and the Andean region as part of their PhD thesis or Master’s dissertation. This support is vital in fostering
meaningful, locally grounded research.

We are also grateful that the partnership includes the opportunity to invite a visiting
professor, further enriching our academic community and strengthening ties with the region.

This continued commitment and trust from Fondation Soli makes a lasting difference.

Fondation SOLI

Dedicated to improving the quality of life of vulnerable communities across Latin America, Fondation Soli focuses on three main areas: supporting access to education from elementary to higher levels, with a particular emphasis on science and technology, communication, life skills and the arts; investing in initiatives that enhance living conditions; and promoting cultural inclusion through artistic, musical, and cultural initiatives.
 

Catherine Mulder, MINT 1977

Catherine “Kitty” Mulder MINT ’77 was born in Lima, Peru. Her parents, a Swiss father and a Greek mother, arrived in Peru in 1947. Catherine went to a British-Peruvian school in Lima and a prep-school in Lausanne, Switzerland. In 1973, Catherine was admitted to the University of Geneva and graduated from the Geneva Graduate Institute with a degree in international relations in 1977. Upon her return to Lima, Catherine joined a British-Peruvian publishing company as a photojournalist, covering Peruvian tourism and later mining and economics before moving to New York City to attend SIPA/Columbia University, in 1980. After graduating from SIPA, she worked in banking and then in the family business, which she and her brothers managed.